Valve.



H. NLLOFTON.

VALVE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-21. 1915.

1,251,792.. Patented Jan. 1,1918.

Z w a ATTORNEY H. M.'LOFTON.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2|, 191s.

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Fffi.4

ATTORN EY UNITED STATES HERBERT M. LOFTON, OF GHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 191 8.

Application filed August 21, 1915. Serial No. 46,727.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT M. Lor'ron, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chattanooga, county of Hamilton, and State of Tennessee, have invented an Improvement in Valves, of which the following is a specification. V

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable construction adapted to a gate or other valve to indicate when the valve is open and closed, the device being so made that it is capable of adjustment to suit valves requiring a greater or less number of revolutions of the operating stem to open or close the valve.

Heretofore, devices for indicating the open and shut positions of the valve piece have been made to suit the definite number of revolutions required to operate the valve and hence were required tohave a special pitch to the screw thread of the operating nut which actuates the targets or indicators to bring them into view at the proper times, and this was undesirable as the indicator mechanism could not be made up in stock and adapted by adjustment to suit any valves, irrespective of the pitch of the valve spindle or stem and the number of revolutions required in opening and closing the valve. By my improvements, the device for operating the targets or indicators is adjustable; hence this attachment for operating the valves and indicating their open and closed conditions may be made up in suitable sizes and then adjusted to suit the different pitch and number of revolutions required to open or close the valve of any make.

My invention consists of certain features of construction fully described hereinafter and more particularly defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improvements applied to a valve; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same on line 00-00; Figs. 8 and 4 are elevations of the target casting with the targets in position ready for assembling into the apparatus; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper end of the in dicator post.

The valve 2 may be of any usual construction, and secured to its upper portion is the lower section 3 of the post. The section 8 of the post is provided at its upper part with a tubular portion over which is adjust-ably fitted the lower portion of the upper section 4 of the post, the two sections being secured together by set screws 5. In this manner the post is adjusted as to its height to suit the depth of the valve in the ground. The post may be made in any other suitable manner if so desired.

Ordinarily, the top of the valve spindle 6 is fitted with a square nut 7 arranged in the lower section of the post. Fitting over this nut 7 is a socket piece 8 formed on the lower end of a stem 9, preferably square in cross section. The square-shaped upper end of the stem fits into a square hole in the operating nut 10 which is journaled in the cap 11 secured upon the top of the head of the upper section, in which it may revolve but held against longitudinal motion. The

downwardly extending body. of this nut within the head of the post is screw-threaded as at 12. This threaded 'endof the nut screws through a target casting 13 which is provided with downwardly extending flanges 14 at opposite sides, said flanges parallel and lying in the direction of movement of the casting 13 under the operation of the nut. Each of these flanges is provided with vertical rows of teeth 15, preferably. arranged at a distance apart. The flanges are also provided with tapped holes 16 at intervals apart and preferably extending. through the toothed portions as shown in Fig. 4. This target casting 13 is also provided with a lug 17 at opposite side edges which is guided between lugs 18 on the head of the post so that it is permitted longitudinal motion but held against rotation with the nut 10. Secured upon each of the'flanges 14 are two targets 19 and 20, the former containing the word Shut and the latter the word Open. These targets have at their ends slots 21 through which screws 23 eX- tend to engage the tapped holes 16 in the target casting. The backs of the targets are also provided with parallel teeth 22 which engage the teeth 15 on the flanges of the target casting, and when clamped'i'n position by the screws 23 the targets are firmly held to the casting and move with it. By making the slots 21 of a length substantially equal to or greater than the distance besection of the post is provided on oppo- V site sides with openings in which are fitted glass windows 2%, said windows held in place by the guards or frames 25 secured to the head by screws. These windows are so positioned that the targets 19 and 20 ar brought alternately into position back of the same window, whereby the shut or open position of the valve may be indicated according to the manipulation of the valve.

By rotating the nut 10 the stem 9 is retated to open or close the valve. The rotation of the nut simultaneously raises or lowers the target casting 13 to bring the open or shut targets back of the windows, as the case may be. It is manifest that if the pitch of the thread on the valve stem was different from the pitch of the screw thread on'the nut- 13, the targets would not move tothe same extent; and to compensate for this and insure the targets coming back of the windows at he proper time, it is only necessary to adjust the targets upon the flanges of the target casting, that is, nearer or farther apart as the case may require. This is accomplished by loosening the screws 23 sufficiently toallow the teeth of the targets to be adjusted over the teeth of the flanges, and then again tightening the screws. In tl is way th positions of the targets may be adjusted to come back of the window to indicate Shut when the valve is closed or shut, and to indicate ()pen when the valve is opened, irrespective of the number of turns or revolutions of the valve spindle required to open and close the valve. Either one or two sets of these targets may be employed as preferred.

It will also be understood that this improvement may be utilized with valves which open by turning the nut to the right or to the left as may be required, the only change necessary being to transpose the open and shut targets. lhus, in a valve that opens to the right, the open target will be placed at the top and the shut target at the bottom, whereas if the valve turns to the left the open target is placed at the bottom and the shut target placed at the top.

It will thus be seen that with this improvement the construction may be considered as universal for use with any size of valve; any make or type of valve; and for any direction of opening.

It will be understood that the nut 10 may screw directly into the target casting 13 or into a bushing therein as shown, and that the general details may be varied in design, as such changes do not act as a departure from the invention.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the valve, rotatable means for opening and closing the valve, a. target casting connected to be raised and lowered by the rotatable n'iean's, indicating targets secured upon the target casting and relatively ad ustable to and from each other, and a casing or head iuclosing the targetsand target'casting having a window or opening through which one or the other of the targets may be seen when the valve is open or closed.

In a device of the character stated, the valve, rotatable means for opening and closing the valve, a target casting connected to be raised and lowered by the rotatable means said casting having transverse teeth, indicating targets secured upon the target casting and relatively adjustable to and from each other said targets also having transverse teeth engaging the teeth of the casting and vertical slots, screws extending through the slots and engaging the target casting to hold the targets in position, and a casing or head inclosing the targets and target casting having a window or opening through which one or the other of the targets may be seen when the valve is open or closed. 7 i

8. In a device of the character stated,the

valve, rotatable means for opening and closing the valve including a nut having a screw threaded exterior, a'target casting connected to be raised and lowered by the screw threaded portion of the nut of the rotatable means, two independent indicating targets secured upon the target casting and relatively adjustable to and from each'other, clamping'means for holding the targets in adjusted positions upon the casting, and a casing or head inclosing the targets and target casting having a window or opening through which one or the other of the targets may be seen when the valve is open or closed. 7 i Y 4. In a device of the character stated, a head adapted for a valve having a window or opening, rotatable means in the head for opening and closing the valve, a target casting. guided in the head and movable longitudinally by the rotatable means, and targets carried by the target casting and relatively adjustable to or from each other and arranged to be respectively moved into position back of the windowsor opening toindicate when thevalve is open and closed.

5. In a device of the character stated, a head adapted for a valve having a window or opening, rotatable means in the head for opening and closing the valve, a target casting guided in the head and movable longitudinally by the rotatable means, and inclependent targets carried by the target casting and relatively adjustable and reversible upon the casting and to or from each other and arranged to be respectively moved into 10 position back of the window or opening to indicate when the valve is open and closed.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT M. LOFTON. Witnesses: I

W. J. DODGE, L. S. MoOULLoHs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

